Iraqi police say they have found nine severed heads wrapped in plastic bags near the town of Baquba, northeast of Baghdad. It is the second such discovery in recent days. In the capital, an explosion near a taxi station in a central part of the city killed one woman and wounded at least one other person. At least five other people died in shootings and other attacks in Baghdad Tuesday.
Insurgent and sectarian violence has surged across Iraq in the past few days as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki struggles to fill two key cabinet positions. Intense wrangling by factions within the governing coalition have blocked a consensus. In other news, Mr. Maliki said Tuesday he will order the release of 2500 prisoners who were not involved in violence. He called it a move to promote national reconciliation.